Tilting and locking device for venetian blinds



Sept. 8, 1931. 1,822,318

TILTINGAND LOCKING DEVICE FOR VENETIAN BL INDS J, GQRUSSELL ET AL Filed Jari. 9, 1931 [lulu 1" Patented Sept. 8, 1931 UNITED S A S PATENT OFFICE JAMES GORDON RUSSELL AND EMIL SCHA TZ, 015 LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA TILT ING AN'D LOCKING DEVICE FOR VENETIAN IBLINDS Application filed :ranuar e, 1931 Serial No. 507,622.

This invention relates generally to Venetian blinds, more specifically to means for tilting and adjusting the position of the slats of such blinds.

In order to obtain the most satisfactory results with blinds of this character, it is necessary that the slats be accurately adjusted, i. e. the-degree of angularity regulated according to the amountof liglit or air desired.

Although it is possible to accomplish this result with blinds equipped in theusual manner it requires more or less time and trouble.

The object of the present invention is to provide a device constructed in such a mannor that the slats of Venetian blinds may be easily and quickly tilted to any desired angle and automatically locked or retained'in adjusted position.

Other objects and advantages will be ap-.

parent from the following description, reference being had to'the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a Venetian blind equipped with the improved tilting, raising and locking devices.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the improved tilting and locking device. c Fig. 3 is a section taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. Fig. 3.

. Referring more specifically to the drawings, 10 designates a Venetian blind mounted in a window frame 12. The blind is of usual construction and consists of a. head piece 14 secured to the window frame, top rail 15, slats 16, bottom rail 17, and fabric strips 18.

Mounted on the head piece 14 adjacent one end thereof and connected to the top rail 15 is a device generally designated at 20 which-serves to tilt and retain the slats 16 in adjusted position.

sists of a shaft 21 mounted in bearings 22 carried by side members 23 of a housing 24. Secured to the shaft is a worm wheel 25 which meshes with a worm 26 secured to 5G a shaft 27 mounted in openings formed in 4 is'asection taken on line 44 of The device 20 con-' the front'and rear. walls 28 and 29 of said housing. I

Secured to the shaft 27 is a sheave wheel 30'provided with flanges 31 having corrugations 32 formedthereon between which is 65 disposed a cord 33, the cord partially encircles the sheave as clearly shown in Fig. 4, passes over a pair of idlers 34 rotatably' mounted on a shaft 35, through openings 36 formed .in the housing thence downwardly therefrom as indicated at 37 and 38.

The cord is held in engagement with and prevented from slipping on the sheave by r an arcuate plate 40 secured to the front wall 28 of the housing.

As previously stated, the device is adapted to be mounted on the head piece 14, and is secured thereto by screws 41 extending through openings 42 in ears 43 formed on the housing.

Connection between the top rail and the device is effected by an angle bracket 44 secured to said top rail and provided with a pair of pins 45 projecting therefrom into openings 46 formed in a plate 47 secured to the outer end of the shaft 21. The oppo site end of the top rail is supported by a pin 48 projecting therefrom 1nto a socket 49 secured to the window frame, it being understood that the axis of the pin and shaft 21 are in horizontal alinement when assembled.

Pulling downwardly on either of the hanging portions 37 or 38 of the cord will effect tilting of the top rail through the gearing above described, the action of which will simultaneously tilt the slats through he medium of the strips 18, it being particularly noted that due to the irreversible feature of the worm and gear the slats will be retained or locked in adjusted position; also that a very accurate adjustment may be obtained.

The blind is adapted to be raised or low ered in any suitable manner, for example, by a hoisting device designated at 52. The

. hoisting cords 65 secured to the bottom rail 17 extend upwardly therefrom and over the usual pulleys on the head piece 14 to said the hoisting device above referred to forms no part of the present invention.

We claim:

1. In a Venetian blind including a head piece, a top rail and slats, a device for tilting and locking the slats in an adjusted position comprising a housing adapted to be secured to the head piece, a shaft mounted in said housing, means for connecting said shaft to the top rail, a gear secured to said shaft, a second shaft mounted in said housing, a worm secured to said second shaft and meshing with said gear, a sheavesecured to said second shaft, and a cord engaging said sheave. v 2. In a Venetian blind including a head piece, a top rail and slats, a device for tilting and locking the slats in an adjusted position comprising a housing adapted to be secured to the head piece, a shaft mounted in said housing, a plate having openings formed therein secured to the outer end of said shaft, a bracket secured to the top rail and provided with pins projecting into the openings formed in said plate, a gear secured to said shaft, a second shaft mounted in said housing, a Worm secured to said second shaft and meshing with said gear,

" a sheave secured to said second shaft, and a cord engaging said sheave.

3. In a Venetian blind including a head piece, a top rail and slats, a device for tilting and locking the slats in an adjusted position comprising a housing adapted to be secured to the head piece, a shaft mounted in said housing, means for connecting said shaft to the top rail, a gear secured to said shaft, a second shaft mounted in said housing, a worm secured to said second shaft and meshingwith .said gear, a sheave having corrugated flanges secured to the outer end of said second shaft, a cord passing over said sheave, an annular plate secured to said housing, said annular plate partially encircling said sheave and frictionally engaging the cord, and a pair of idlers mounted in said housing for supporting the free ends of said cord.

In testimony whereof we aflix our signatures.

JAMES GORDON RUSSELL EMIL SCI-IATZ. 

